The final Undergraduate Student Government (USG) debate, intended to give students the opportunity to question the candidates, was reformatted to better showcase the differences between the similar platforms.

Head elections commissioner David Gelpi said having the commissioners ask questions was beneficial for the candidates and those attending the debate. Only one person in attendance was not affiliated with either of the campaigns.

"Candidates didn't feel that students could provide the depth they're looking for," he said.

He added that the process didn't discourage students from participating, but instead helped focus the debate. Commissioners wanted the campaign teams to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Presidential candidate Kevin Ward emphasized his close relationship with his twin brother, Daniel, and their State College upbringing as positive traits that the opposing team -- Nick Stathes and Pat Daley -- will never be able to accomplish.

The Wards also reiterated their intent to spend time accomplishing action in USG rather than rewriting the constitution, a platform used by current USG president Galen Foulke.

Daniel Ward said he and Kevin would be better in the executive positions because Stathes and Daley have been involved with the current internal bickering in USG.

"We see ourselves as new faces," Kevin Ward said. "We have not been involved in that in the past and don't foresee it in the future."

Stathes said he and Daley have a better understanding of what needs to be done and how to do it because of their experience.

"Fighting is not necessarily bad," he said. "But it's what student leaders are fighting about."

Gelpi asked the candidates about the recent deaths of Penn State students and safety precautions.

Stathes and Daley said advertising counseling services offered by the university and encouraging students to take advantage of those services would be the best solution USG could offer.

The Wards proposed communication between USG and police services on campus and in State College.

Kevin Ward added that students need to be informed about responsible drinking.

"We need to educate drinking in moderation, not that it's evil," he said.

Diversity was the last issue addressed by the candidates.

Daley discussed rising tuition as a barrier for potential students who could diversify the university.

"Diversity is something that needs to be tackled in Penn State and the Penn State structure," he said.

He added that if the tuition continues to increase, Penn State will become more exclusive and will deter certain social classes from even applying.

The Wards said they would begin to tackle diversity by setting an example in USG.

"Penn State is a divided community, and USG is a divided organization," Kevin Ward said.

He added that once USG is more unified, the campus as a whole could better address diversity.

Gelpi said the questions the commission asked were accurate summaries of real student concerns.

The commission had initially invited students to submit questions during "Meet the Candidates" sessions and received about 60 written submissions.

"I think that the commission was able to find detailed and encompassing questions that showed the strengths and weaknesses of each platform," Gelpi said.